Ibadan: Stakeholders in Nigeria’s power sector have called for accelerated delivery of the Ikere Gorge Hydropower Project, describing it as critical to improving electricity supply and driving economic growth.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, they made the call during a UK PACT stakeholder engagement workshop on the imperatives for fast-tracking the project through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. Chief Executive Officer of Quaint Energy, Mr Mobolaji Durodola, said the workshop was aimed at developing a clear framework and pathway to ensure successful execution of the project. Durodola noted that although the project was complex, stakeholder engagement would help simplify implementation and ensure it delivers expected outcomes.
‘We want to define critical aspects of the project, address technical challenges and gather feedback from stakeholders to ensure a well-informed and effective plan,’ he said. The CEO further emphasized that sustained engagement with communities, financiers, and regulators would be key to achieving seamless execution.
Also, the Managing Partner, AP3, Dr Olusina Gori, highlighted the event’s focus on catalysing Run-of-River Small Hydropower for Nigeria’s decentralised energy transition. He pointed out the urgent need for diversified, resilient, and low-carbon solutions given the rising demand and increasing strain on national grid infrastructure. Gori remarked that small hydropower offers a clean, reliable, and climate-resilient opportunity to bridge energy deficits.
Hajia Aisha Sutura of AP3 Advisory stressed the private sector’s role in infrastructure development, noting that governments alone could not meet energy demands. She described the Ikere Gorge project as a potential model for developing Nigeria’s numerous small hydropower resources.
Dr Sunday Owolabi, Director of Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification at the Federal Ministry of Power, stated that the project aligns with Nigeria’s renewable energy goals and could boost rural electrification. Financing constraints, regulatory bottlenecks, and risk allocation issues were identified as major challenges facing power projects in the country.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Prof. Dahud Sangodoyin, assured that the project would be implemented in line with the Electricity Act 2023 and existing regulatory frameworks. He noted that the state had taken proactive steps to support energy investments.
Chairman of Quaint Energy, Mr Femi Adeyanju, remarked that the project marked a transition from planning to actual implementation. He highlighted Nigeria’s electricity deficit, noting that the Ikere Gorge project has greater capacity that would contribute to bridging the electricity gap while promoting sustainable energy.
Managing Director of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Mr Deolu Ijose, stressed the importance of projects like the Ikere Gorge Hydropower Project, given that about 85 million Nigerians still lacked reliable electricity. Similarly, Mr Ibironke Babajide of the Nigerian Independent System Operator said hydropower remained vital for grid stability.
A community leader from the Isalu, Iseyin/Ikere area, Chief Siji Oke, expressed optimism about the project, noting that it would bring long-awaited development to the area.